New Week, New Plan For Patriots Offense

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Matt LaPan, Go Local Sports Reporter

Each week brings a new challenge in the NFL. New personnel to learn, picking up the tendencies based on formations and positional groups and creating a new gameplay to put your offense and defense in the right position to win. While each aspect of the Patriots preparation are important, none will be more drastically different this week than the offensive game plan.

The Baltimore Approach

The Patriots will begin preparations for the Indianapolis Colts after defeating the Baltimore Ravens 35-31 in the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs. The game plan for the Ravens was clear, the Patriots took the “spread and shred” approach with little to no running game involved. The Patriots only ran the ball 13 times on the night for just 14 yards. They only attempted one rushing attempt in the 2nd Half, a quarterback sneak from Tom Brady. That is not a typo, the Patriots did not attempt a single rushing attempt to a running back in the 2nd Half of a playoff win.

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This was not a huge surprise, however. The Patriots went into the game without running back Jonas Gray and without offensive tackle Cam Fleming, both integral parts of the Patriots’ rushing attack. 

This strategy likely came about due to the defensive strength of the Ravens. The Ravens entered the postseason with the 4th best regular season rushing defense, allowing just 88.2 yards per game on the ground. The Patriots came in to the postseason with the 18th-ranked rushing attack, averaging 107.9 yards per game.

These factors coupled with the sheer size of Brandon Williams and Haloti Ngata on the interior of the Ravens defensive line were the perfect factors for the Patriots to take to the air.

The Colts Weakness

While the Ravens were one of the top rush defenses in the NFL, the Colts struggled to stop the run in the regular season — especially against the Patriots. The Colts allowed 113.4 yards per game during the regular season, the 15th ranked rush defense in the NFL. In the playoffs, the Colts have allowed 99 yards per game in wins over the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos.

While their rush defense has improved, the Colts have struggled mightily defending the run in each of their previous three games against the Patriots. The biggest struggle came earlier this season, in a Week 11 matchup in Indianapolis. The Colts allowed 246 yards on the ground, including a career-high 201 and four touchdowns for Jonas Gray. The game served as a breakout game for Gray, but it was not the first time the Colts allowed four rushing touchdowns to a Patriots running back in a 42-20 route.

That came in the Divisional Round of the 2013 playoffs. That day, the Colts allowed 234 total yards rushing, including 166 and four touchdowns to LeGarrette Blount. The Patriots also got two more touchdowns from Stevan Ridley in a 43-22 beat down at Gillette Stadium.

These two games came on the heels of a 59-24 beating at Gillette Stadium in 2012. The Patriots only managed 115 yards in that game, but they did average 4.6 yards per carry in the game. Julian Edelman led the Patriots in rushing with one rush for 47 yards while Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley both ran for a touchdown.

Setting Up The AFC Championship Game

This recent success on the ground for the Patriots sets a clear precedent for a game plan on Sunday. Patriots fans who were disappointed by Jonas Gray being inactive and the lack of a run game will likely get their chance to see the return of the running game.

There are some extenuating factors that could limit the Patriots rushing attack, however. First, the Patriots could be without starting center Bryan Stork. Stork left the Patriots win over the Ravens after having his knee rolled under on a run play. He was announced to have a knee injury and did not return to the game.

Another big factor could be on the other side of the ball, and is a familiar name to the Patriots: Arthur Jones. Jones, brother of Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones, will be playing in this game after missing the Week 11 matchup with an ankle injury. Jones is known as a run stopper along the defensive line and allows Jerrell Freeman and the other Colts linebackers to make plays. Jones’ impact could be the difference that the Colts need to stop the run.

With all of these factors in play, it will be interesting to see how the Colts try to slow down the Patriots rushing attack. 

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